Ellington Historical Society

Ellington Historical Society The Ellington Historical Society makes connections with and preserves the past. present and future o Open at monthly events and by appointment.

www.ellingtonhistsoc.org

Just 4 days from now, the Nellie McKnight Museum grounds will be filled with moos, oinks, chirps, and the laughter of ch...
06/02/2026

Just 4 days from now, the Nellie McKnight Museum grounds will be filled with moos, oinks, chirps, and the laughter of children as Barnyard Babies Day returns!

Join us on Saturday, June 6, from 9 AM to Noon for a free morning of family fun. Meet an adorable collection of baby farm animals, create a barnyard-themed craft, enjoy bubbles and outdoor play in celebration of National Play Outside Day, and explore our newest exhibit, Our Town, Our Story: An Ellington Timeline.

We're also so excited to welcome Oakridge Dairy, who will be offering samples of their new farm-fresh beverage, Moozy.

Bring the family and spend a memorable morning meeting animals, making crafts, and creating new memories.

Free for one, free for all, only at the Nellie McKnight Museum this Saturday. Our museum is located at 70 Main Street, Ellington. See you this weekend!

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Get Ready for a Morning Full of Farmyard Fun!Join us for our beloved Barnyard Babies Day on Saturday, June 6, from 9 AM–...
06/01/2026

Get Ready for a Morning Full of Farmyard Fun!

Join us for our beloved Barnyard Babies Day on Saturday, June 6, from 9 AM–Noon at the Nellie McKnight Museum!

Meet adorable baby farm animals, create your own barnyard-themed craft, enjoy bubbles in celebration of National Play Outside Day, and explore our new exhibit, Our Town, Our Story: An Ellington Timeline.

We're also thrilled to welcome Oakridge Dairy, who will be offering samples of their new farm-fresh drink, Moozy!

Bring the family, make some furry and feathery friends, and enjoy a morning of outdoor fun and local history.

FREE FOR ONE, FREE FOR ALL!

It's a morning packed with baby animals, outdoor fun, and hometown history, only at the Nellie McKnight Museum, located at 70 Main Street, Ellington this Saturday!

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Little Piggies are coming to Barnyard Babies Day at the Nellie McKnight Museum, 80 Main St. Ellington,J une 6th from 9am...
05/31/2026

Little Piggies are coming to Barnyard Babies Day at the Nellie McKnight Museum, 80 Main St. Ellington,J une 6th from 9am to noon. This little piggie is NOT staying home!

One week from today! Barnyard Babies and Bubbles June 6th 9am to noon, Nellie McKnight Museum, 70 Main St. Ellington.
05/30/2026

One week from today! Barnyard Babies and Bubbles June 6th 9am to noon, Nellie McKnight Museum, 70 Main St. Ellington.

Only ONE WEEK AWAY! June 6th from 9am to noon. Come visit the Barnyard Babies at the Nellie McKnight Museum, 70 Main ...
05/30/2026

Only ONE WEEK AWAY! June 6th from 9am to noon. Come visit the Barnyard Babies at the Nellie McKnight Museum, 70 Main St. Ellington, Free!

Happy Friday Ellington! Today, we conclude our series with the rise of the 4th Congregational Church, the iconic buildin...
05/29/2026

Happy Friday Ellington! Today, we conclude our series with the rise of the 4th Congregational Church, the iconic building that still stands proudly on Main Street and remains our wonderful neighbor today.

Plans to rebuild began almost immediately after the devastating fire in October 1914. We are especially fortunate to have two endearing photographs from the 1915 laying of the cornerstone. These timeless images beautifully capture the excitement and significance of the moment as townspeople gathered to take the first important step toward bringing their beloved church back to life.

As you look through the photographs, do you recognize a distant relative standing among the crowds?

As we explored the history behind this remarkable moment, we would be remiss not to mention the architectural firm behind the new church: Clark & Arms Architects. Owned by Cameron Clark and John Taylor Arms, the firm was still in the early stages of its career at the time. Both men would later become highly respected figures in their fields. Mr. Clark went on to become a renowned Colonial Revival architect, while his partner, Mr. Arms, became one of America’s leading etchers.

We close this series with a final image, one of many through the years, showing our museum and the church standing side by side in the present day.

We hope you have enjoyed this special series and invite you to discover even more stories from our town’s past at our newest exhibit: OUR TOWN, OUR STORY: AN ELLINGTON TIMELINE.

And don’t forget, we’ll be open next weekend, June 6, from 9 AM to Noon for our popular Barnyard Babies event. We hope to see you then!

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Thursday greetings Ellington! Today, we're looking back at the tragic day of October 3, 1914, when Ellington’s 3rd Congr...
05/28/2026

Thursday greetings Ellington!

Today, we're looking back at the tragic day of October 3, 1914, when Ellington’s 3rd Congregational Church was destroyed by fire. The blaze spread rapidly and, in the series of photographs shared today, you’ll see the devastating aftermath as the fire consumed the majestic structure.

One particularly haunting image captures a somber horse-drawn buggy standing quietly beside what appears to be the smoldering ruins. If you look closely, you can also spot individuals carefully walking among the collapsed remains, searching through what was left behind.

In the days that followed, the town moved quickly to adapt. As reported by The Hartford Courant on October 8, 1914:

“…the voting booths, saved from the burned building, were erected near the horse sheds at the rear of the church yard, with overhead cover… the arrangement was convenient and novel. The town meeting was held in the open air in the same place, and was unusually well attended.”

Suspicion soon grew that a “fire bug” may have been responsible, prompting advertisements offering rewards for the arrest and conviction of “any person or persons committing arson in the town of Ellington.”

The destruction of the church marked a major turning point in the town’s history, leading not only to the rebuilding of the beautiful 4th church, but also to the construction of Ellington’s town hall.

Tune in tomorrow for the final part of this series as we explore the building of the 4th church that still stands proudly today.

We hope you’re enjoying this journey back through Ellington’s past. And if these stories spark your curiosity, be sure to visit our museum’s newest exhibit: OUR TOWN, OUR STORY: AN ELLINGTON TIMELINE.

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Good morning, Ellington! Wednesday greetings. A single photograph in our Memorial Day post sparked several wonderful que...
05/27/2026

Good morning, Ellington! Wednesday greetings.

A single photograph in our Memorial Day post sparked several wonderful questions about the historic 3rd Congregational Church, so we thought it was the perfect opportunity to take a deeper look into the story of Ellington’s 3rd and 4th Congregational churches. Today, we’re excited to kick off a special three-part series exploring their fascinating history.

In today’s post, you’ll step back to the late 1860s with beautiful photographs of the majestic 3rd church, constructed between 1867 and 1868, along with a collection of short notes highlighting its construction, appearance, and early years at the heart of the community.

Tomorrow, we’ll revisit the heartbreaking events of October 3, 1914, when fire destroyed the beloved church in a dramatic and unforgettable day for the town. Then on Friday, we’ll conclude the series with photographs and notes documenting the construction of the 4th church, the beautiful landmark that still stands today on Main Street beside our museum.

We hope you enjoy this journey through another remarkable chapter of Ellington’s past. And don’t forget, you can explore even more stories from our town’s history at our museum’s newest exhibit: OUR TOWN, OUR STORY: AN ELLINGTON TIMELINE.

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The Ellington Historical Society is looking for tech savvy volunteers to join our team! We would love to add videos and...
05/26/2026

The Ellington Historical Society is looking for tech savvy volunteers to join our team! We would love to add videos and reels to our exhibits and social media presence. email: [email protected] if you can help.

On this Memorial Day, the Ellington Historical Society pauses to reflect on a remarkable image from our town’s past, wha...
05/25/2026

On this Memorial Day, the Ellington Historical Society pauses to reflect on a remarkable image from our town’s past, what is believed to be a Memorial Day procession from May 1914.

There is a solemn beauty in this grainy photograph. Though the faces of those marching together are difficult to distinguish, perhaps that is part of what makes the moment so moving. The image captures not individuals, but a shared act of honor, remembrance, and reverence.

As one of our great town’s historians, Lynn Kloter Fahy, described, the procession passes by the Third Congregational Church only months before its tragic destruction by arson later that year. Among those marching in uniform may very well have been some of Ellington’s last living Civil War veterans, men who had witnessed the terrible cost of war and understood the true meaning of sacrifice

More than a century later, the purpose of Memorial Day remains unchanged: to remember those who gave their lives in service to our country and to honor the freedoms secured through their sacrifice.

Today, the Ellington Historical Society offers its deepest gratitude and remembrance to all the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.

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Address

70 Main Street, PO Box 73
Ellington, CT
06029

Telephone

+18608720121

Website

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